Assessment and feedback: guides and case studies

An introduction to assessment and feedback

Your guide to assessment methods and how to
select the right one for your course

Unseen written examinations are
widespread at UCL, but writing under pressure for a limited time doesn’t always
enable students to show the depth and breadth of their learning.

There are numerous methods
available, from presentations and portfolios to essays and article reviews –
and all of them can be used in different ways to enable students to develop and
demonstrate their learning.

In order to meet the needs of
students and the expectations of professional bodies and employers, UCL is
taking action to improve assessment and feedback. Here are the chief assessment
methods available.

Regular practical work

Strengths

This method keeps students focused on the task at hand
and encourages them to apply themselves throughout the course rather than
cramming later on. It is also formative in nature, as there are opportunities
for students and teachers to make adjustments. It can encourage application,
translation and interpretation of concepts that have been learnt.

Weaknesses

It can be time consuming for
teachers and has the potential to become a 'hoop jumping' exercise if not used
formatively.

Final exams

Strengths

Final exams remain popular as they offer assurance
that students have attained the appropriate knowledge, skills and dispositions
by the end of the course.

Weaknesses

Disadvantages include that final exams are merely summative, act as a measure of poise (i.e. a
capacity to recall information under stress) and encourage reproduction rather
than transformation of information.

Essays and assignments

Strengths

Essays can be an opportunity or students to develop an
extended argument and achieve depth rather than breadth of learning. The process also offers the chance to interpret, translate, apply,
critique, evaluate, pose problems and conduct inquiry.

Weaknesses

They are notoriously time consuming to mark and assessment can also be highly subjective. Other problems include that they are often set at the end of a course or topic and so leave no
opportunity for students to make note of and use of the feedback.

Field reports

Strengths

The value of field reports is in
their authenticity and ability to help students develop practical skills.
Observation and recording skills plus
sound organisation are all vital.

Weaknesses

They are costly
to supervise, difficult to timetable and may also pose ethical and safety
issues.

Article reviews

Strengths

Not only do article reviews require
interpretation and evaluation, they also give students the opportunity to walk
in the shoes of the experts and understand their process.

Weaknesses

Students need to be taught how to
review. Difficult to find appropriate articles

Group work

Strengths

The ability to collaborate and
co-operate is vital in virtually all walks of life, so encouraging and
assessing group work provides students with some really valuable experience.
The chief strength is authentic skill development.

Weaknesses

It is difficult to assess individual
input using this method, and group work can be time-consuming for students to organise.

Portfolios

Strengths

A portfolio can act as a synthesis of what students
have learnt in a number of topics. Students also have to accept a high degree
of responsibility, which means it encourages engagement with learning
intentions, and valid and authentic assessment play a part as students can
include real world tasks. There is also a focus on higher order thinking and
the ability to curate and edit content.

Weaknesses

This exercise can be time consuming
for both students and teachers.

Performances and presentations

Strengths

Preparing and delivering a
presentation, for example as part of a student conference or symposium, helps
students develop authentic skills.

Weaknesses

Presentations will need to be captured
in order to reflect on in order to assess.